The Funk

I've officially hit my winter funk.  Amazingly we have been spared the ridiculous amount of snow the east coast (and Kansas City) have gotten this year.  But I'm still in a funk.  It's cold, it's dark when I wake up, it's dark when I come home.  I'm dreaming of sun and warmth.

That is why in 22 days we'll be heading to the southwest for a long weekend (which just happens to be my birthday weekend)!  Top on my list of things to do is visit Taliesin West.  Chris and I will also be slipping away for the weekend...without James.

22 days can't pass quick enough.

Summer 2010 in South Haven, MI

A Very Magical Birthday

 

This year we celebrated James' 3rd birthday with a magic show party.  There was a magician, balloon animals, magic hats to decorate, magic wands in the gift bags, and of course cupcakes.  The party was a huge hit, James was a gracious host telling everyone "thank you for coming to my party", and I was glad I didn't have 15 3-5 year olds in our house. 

Three was the year that he really understood it was his birthday (we were talking about it for months).  Three was also the year of Toy Story 3.  Three is the year that my baby became a little big boy.  He is full of opinions, of "doing it myself", and stubborn as can be.  He is very helpful (when he wants to be).  He is fearless.  He can start a nail with his little plastic hammer.  He loves to help in the kitchen no matter if it is baking or washing dishes.  He loves to do puzzles and color.  He is proficient at using the iPhone.  I love to listen to him as his imaginative play is really taking off.  I'm pretty sure he has an imaginary friend named Bobby.  I can still get a hug out of him, and love to sneak in kisses on his neck. 

Happy Birthday James

My Dad is 30

er...wait a minute. I'm 30. 30 years ago my mom made me a onesie that said "My Dad is 30", so that would make him...well, you do the math!

Some favorite pictures from our weekend in KC of the two Jameses on the tractor (the highlight of the weekend for me).

Happy Birthday Dad.

a surprise

Me and Kelly

I miss my family terribly. Especially when going through this especially stressful time in our lives. It would be awesome to be able to drop James off for an afternoon, or day, or entire weekend so we could actually make some real progress on the house.

So instead of staying home this long weekend to actually work on the house (or distract James so Chris could work on the house), I hopped on a plane early Saturday morning and surprised Kelly and Scott for Miss Tessa's first birthday party. They were completely floored to see me standing on their porch, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Baby girl only turns one once...and they did it up right!

Cotton candy, cupcakes, popcorn and LOTS of balloons

Tutu
and monogrammed bloomers
One
just like that

It isn't a party unless you've got cake on your face (and up your nose and in your ears).

Happy Birthday Tessa!

Hello 30!

And I'm excited! I'm excited for the possibilities, for all that is in store for me and my family. I'm finally comfortable with where I am (Chicago actually feels like home now) and with who I am becomming. Becomming, because there is still much for me to learn and to improve in myself. But we are all a work in progress, right?

As I turned 20, I don't think in a million years I could have predicted all that I would do and accomplish in a decade:

• studying abroad in Italy and traveling to Switzerland, Germany, France and the UK
• graduating college (okay, I could have predicted that)
• getting my masters degree
• meeting Chris and getting married and moving to Cedar Rapids right after graduation
• working at Deloitte as an auditor
• getting a cat...then a dog
• then moving to Chicago
• getting a job at ADP and having five different positions in five years
• running a marathon and a half marathon
• traveling to Hong Kong and China as Chris finished his MBA
• traveling to Brussels, Finland and Amsterdam for work (okay, Amsterdam wasn't work related)
• welcoming James into the world and watching him grow into a brave, talkative, and sometimes challenging, two year old

When I look back when I'm 40, I wonder what I will be able to add to this list. But for right now I'm focusing on Year 30. There are big goals and small goals I have for this year:

• pay off the car this Spring
• buy a new house that is closer to work and has a little more room (the family will expand...eventually...but I vow never to have another winter baby in Chicago!)
• take more photos and improve my photography
• enjoy a vacation with my family on Lake Michigan
• work on creating new and nurturing the existing relationships in my life
• focus on serving God

But some days, I know, I'm sure I'll be happy just to make it through the day : )
So I say goodbye to my 20's. You taught me a lot, challenged me in ways I never could have expected, but also brought more joy than I ever thought possible.
And say hello to my 30's.